The nurse is caring for a chronic heart failure patient with left-sided failure. Which documentation should the nurse expect to see in the medical record after this patient has a cardiac catheterization?
1. "Pressures in the left ventricle and atrium are increased."
2. "Pressures in the left ventricle and atrium are decreased."
3. "Pressures in the right ventricle and atrium match the ventricle pressures."
4. "Pressures in the right ventricle reflect functioning of all heart chambers."
Correct Answer: 1
As the heart loses its ability to eject blood effectively from the left ventricle upon contraction, blood is retained in the left ventricle after systole and the chamber pressure rises due to the added blood volume. This patient is in left-sided heart failure, so pressure is higher in the left side of the heart, not the right side.
You might also like to view...
When assessing the pulse of a 6-year-old boy, the nurse notices that his heart rate varies with his respiratory cycle, speeding up at the peak of inspiration and slowing to normal with expiration. The nurse's next action would be to:
a. Immediately notify the physician. b. Consider this finding normal in children and young adults. c. Check the child's blood pressure, and note any variation with respiration. d. Document that this child has bradycardia, and continue with the assessment.
An 18-year-old high-school senior comes to the local family planning clinic requesting birth control pills. When discussing sexual health with the adolescent girl, your first nursing priority would be to do which of the following?
1) Urge the teen to practice healthful sexual behaviors. 2) Inform her about the risk of pregnancy and STIs. 3) Assess the teen's knowledge of sexuality and reproduction. 4) Provide detailed information about birth control pills.
What is a major goal for the therapeutic management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)?
a. Control pain and preserve joint function. b. Minimize use of joint and achieve cure. c. Prevent skin breakdown and relieve symptoms. d. Reduce joint discomfort and regain proper alignment.
The patient in a rehabilitation unit is having a difficult time adjusting to the scheduled activities on the unit, as well as being dependent on others for meals and medications. Which word best describes what the patient is experiencing?
A) Anxiety B) Disparity C) Resolution D) Shock